Russian troops focused on holding positions near Kharkiv

Ukraine's military said Friday that Russian troops have concentrated their efforts on holding positions in Kharkiv and heavily shelling the Donetsk and Tauride regions to prevent the "regrouping" of Ukraine's forces.

The Russian military is also restricting the movements of locals in the occupied areas and confiscating their harvest, according to the spokesperson for Ukraine's General Staff of Armed Forces, Oleksandr Shtupun, speaking at a daily briefing.

"More than 60 tons of wheat were stolen from an agricultural community in the city of Kamenka-Dneprovskaya," Shtupun added.

Russian forces also continue to block Ukrainian forces in Mariupol near the Azovstal plant, Shtupun said.

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces hit 15 air targets, including one aircraft and five cruise missiles, Shtupun said.

Image: AP